Brake or clutch



Oct. 9, 1945.

H. T. KRAFT 2,386,477

BRAKE OR CLUTCH Filed March 29, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Her-mu T Kraft BY ATTORNEYS Oct. 9, 1945. H. T. KRAFT 2,386,477

BRAKE 0R CLUTCH Filed March 29, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR E Herman 1'. Kraft BY 604v Me ATTSRNEYS Oct. 9, 1945. H. 'r. KRAFT 2,386,477

' BRAKE R CLUTCH Filed March 29, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 zs z 48 45 4 44 q 6 9 89 89 ll 29 90 s; 87- 87 "5 .77 20 INVENTOR F. 4 Herman T. Kraft 1 7. BY ATTORNEYS H. T. KRAFT BRAKE OR CLUTCH Filed March 29, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Herman T. Kraft BY ATTORNEYS H. T. KRAFT BRAKE 0R CLUTCH Filed March 29, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 lNVENTOR Hwmah Z Kraft ATTORNEYS Oct. 9, 1945. H. T. KRAFT 2,386,477

BRAKE OR CLUTCH Filed March 29, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 U3 INVENTOR Herman T, Kraft ATTO R N EYS Patented Oct. 9, i945 uurrso "STATES A PATENT orrica v 2.3mm y Herman .1. Kraft, Akron, Ohio,

General Tire & Rubber Company.

' a corporation of Ohio Application timbre, 1943, Seth] No. new;

inafter described, and particularly set forth in This invention relates to an improved heavyduty brake or clutch and a combined aircraft landing wheel and brake, the present application being a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 446,356, filed June 9, 1942 now abandoned.

This invention has for an object to provide a simple and compact brake or clutch mechanism which includes a resiliently mounted friction element and which has a high torque-absorbing ca- Wits.

A further object of the invention is to provide a heavy-duty brake or clutch mechanism which has an internal annular friction member mounted on a torque disk for axial movement toward or away from an external annular friction member and connected to the torque disk by means of yieldable centering and torque-transmitting connections.

A further object is to provide a mechanism of the character referred to which has interengaging conical friction members of small taper and relatively large engaging surfaces, the internal friction member having torque-transmitting conmotion to a supporting member which has a radius which is approximately the same as that of the large ends of the conical friction members.

Further objects of the invention are to provide improved means for actuating the movable friction members and improved means for adjusting one of the friction members relative to the other to compensate for wear.

A further object of the invention is to provide an airplane landing wheel of simple and compact construction, which has an interior brake capable of applying adequate retarding torque.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mounting for the wheel on its axle which will permit free expansion or contraction of the wheel body due to heat without subjecting the wheel body to objectionable stresses. a

A further object of the invention is to provide a wheel and brake unit in which both the tire and the brake-operating mechanism are efiectively protected against the transfer of an excessive amount of heat from the friction brake elements.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wheel which may be quickly and easily removed from the axle and which may be taken apart after removal for repair of the tire or brake mechanism, or both.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention may be said to comprise the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, herealaignor to The Akron, Ohio,

the appended claims, together with such variations and modifications thereof as will be apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

Reference should drawin s formin a which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an aircraft landing wheel with a. built-in brake embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an axial section taken indicated at 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3- is a section taken at 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line indicated at 4-4 in Fig. 1; I

Fig. 5 is a section taken on at 5-5 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section on an enlarged scale taken on the line indicated at 6-6 in Fig. 4;

Fig. "l is a section on an enlarL d scale through the fluid induction stem of one of the inflatable annuli;

Fig. 8 is a section at 8-8 in Fla. 9;

Fig. 9 is a transverse section through the peripheral portion of the wheel taken on the line indicated at 9-4 in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevation on an enlarged scale showing one of the spring-bearing members carried by the movable friction shoes;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation showing a modified form of torque disk;

Fig. 12 is a section taken on the line indicated at i2--l2inFig.11;

Fig. 13 is a section taken on the line indicated atl3--l3inFi.11;

Fig. 14 is a plan view of one of the packing rings;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view showing a clutch embodying the invention; and

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary side elevation of the torque disk shown in Fig. 15.

In Figs. 1 to 14, inclusive, of the drawings. the invention is shown applied to a combined brake and wheel suitable for an airplane landing wheel. The wheel and brake of the present invention are shown mounted on an axle l which is provided with a rib 2 spaced inwardly from the end thereof and has a flange I rigidly attached thereto adjacent the rib 2. The wheel-receiving portion of the axle outwardly of the rib. 2 has an be had to the accompanying part of this specification, in

on the line on the line indicated the line indicated taken on the line indicated inner cylindrical seating portion 4 addacent the rib 2, a second cylindrical seating portion adiacent its outer end, which is of smaller diameter than the seating portion 4, and a tapering portion 3 between the seating portions 4 and l, the

axle being provided with a reduced threaded por- 0 quill is provided with a flange II. which abuts the flange 3 of the axle and is detachably'secured to the flange 3 by means of attaching bolts [2. An inner race ring l3 of a roller bearing I4 is centrally of the rim. At spaced points circumferentially of the rim. bosses 39 are formed at the juncture of the conical portions 34 with the rim, and bolts 31 passing through these bosses serve to clamp the halves of the wheel together. The inner and ,outer halves of the wheel are preferably in the form ofcasting's with integral bracing webs 33 bridging the spaces between the conical portions 34 and the rim 2!! at regularly spaced points throughout the circumference of the wheel. Between successive webs 33, a plurality of radial fins 39 are provided on the exterior facesof the conical portions 34 of the disks. The webs 39 and fins 39 provide a large external surface area for radiation of heat from T the body of the wheel.

mounted upon the quill 9 adjacent the flange ll and a ring l5, formed of a helical wire spring of small diameter and relatively long pitch, is interposed between the ring i3 and the flange II. On the outer end of the quill there is mounted the inner race ring iii of a roller bearing ll. The race ring i6 is held in place by a washer l9 and nut l9 screwed on the threaded end I of the axle.

A wheel mounted on the bearings i4 and IT comprises a wide rim providing a seal for a pneumatic tire 2| and side disks 22 and 23, which have quill receiving apertures in which the outer race rings 24 and 25 of the roller bearings l4 and i! are mounted. The wheel body, which is preferably formed of a light metal having a relatively high coefllcient of expansion such as an aluminum or magnesium alloy, is held in place upon the quill by means of the washer i8 and the nut I9, the thrust of the washer l9 against the race ring it being transmitted through the body of the wheel to the inner bearing I 4, and pressing the race ring is against the spring IS. The spring l5 provides a yielding abutment which holds the ring l3 out of contact with the flange ll of the quill and provides a space which permits expansion and contraction of the metal wheel body due to heat without subjecting either the wheel body or the quill to excessive stresses.

The bearing-receiving aperture of the outer disk 23 is closed by a hub cap 26 which covers the end of the axle. A sealing ring 21 carried by the disk 23 engages the quill 3 inwardly of the bearing H. The sealing ring 21 is formed of a suitable packing material to retain grease or oil in the bearing IT. The inner disk 22 carries sealing rings 28 and 29, which engage the quill on the inner and outer sides of the roller bearing l4 to confine grease or oil to the bearing I4. Inwardlyof the sealing rings 21 and 29, oil trapping rings 30 are provided, the rings 30 being in the form of sheet metal disks attached to the inner surfaces of the disks 22 and 23 by screws 3| The rings 39 are spaced from the inner surfaces of the disks 22 and 23 to provide'annular spaces 32 in which oil leaking past the sealing rings will be thrown outwardly by centrifugal force. At the outer peripheries of the annular passages 32, holes 33 are provided in the disks 22 and 23 through which oil may flow to the outside of the wheel.

The disks 22 and 23 serve as brake members as well as supports for the rim 20 and have converging conical outer portions 34 which are Joined to the rim 20 centrally thereof. The disks 22 and 23 are preferably made integral withthe inner and outer halves of the rim 20, to provide inner and outer wheel sections, the two sections having stepped faces 35 which abut Conical wear plates 49 are attached by suitable means to the interior faces of the conical portions 34. As best shown in Figs. 8 and 9, means may be provided to permit circulation of air between the wear plates 40 and the body of the disk to lessen the amount of heat conducted from the wear plates to the body of-the wheel. Circumferentially spaced apertures 4| are provided in the body of the disks at regularly spaced intervals throughout the circumference; a series of parallel circumferential grooves 42 in the inner faces of the conical portions 34 provide passages for air along the outer faces of the plates 40 between the apertures 4|,

The quill 9 has a central splined portion 43 upon which a torque disk 44 is fltted. The torque disk is held against turning on the quill 8 by the splined portion 43 and is held against axial sliding movement on the. quill by means of a locking plate 45 (Figs. 4 and 6), which engages in a circumferential groove 48 in the quill. The locking plate ismounted for radial adjustment on the disk into and out of engagement with the groove 46 to lock or release the torque disk, the plate being provided with a radial slot 41 which receives a screw 49 attached to the disk 44.

The disk 44 has laterally opening annular channels 49 in the opposite faces thereof. The channels 49 are arranged back-to-back and each has an inflatable annulus 50 mounted therein. Fluid under pressure is supplied to the annuli 59 from a pressure supply pipe 5| which is attached to a fitting 52 carried by the flange 3 on the axle. A pipe 53 is attached to the fitting 52 and extends axially through the portion of the quill upon which the bearing I4 is mounted and outwardly through an opening in the quill to a fitting 54 that is clamped in a transverse aperture formed in the disk 44 by means of a nut '55. The fitting 54 has a tubular inner endconnected to the pipe 53, is closed at its outer threaded end and has lateral openings 58 which communicate with divergent passages 51 formed in the disk 44. The passages 57 extends outwardly to chambers 58 in the body of the disk 44 between thetwo channels 49.

Each annulus 59 has a stem 59 which extends through the disk 44 and chamber 59 into a recess 50 formed in the bottom of the opposite channel 49. As best shown in Fig. 7, the end of the stem in the recess 60 is threaded to receive a clamping nut SI and thestem has lateral openings 52 to the chamber 59, so that fluid under pressure from the pipe 5| will flow into the annulus. The stem 59 of one annulus 59 is spaced circumferentially from the stem 59 of the other annulus so that each annulus is independently clamped to thebody of the disk 44 and the pas- M to prevent leakage of of the fltting and the disk is provided with asses sage ll extends from the stem of one annulus'to the stem-of the other. Each stem 58 has a head 03 within an annulus II and the inner wall of each extends into a recess CI in the bottom of the channel M so that when the nut II is tightened the soft rubber of the inflatable annulus will be compressed in the recess 85 to insure a fluidtl ht joint between the annulus and the stem. 08 is also preferably inserted fluid into the recess.

As best shown in Fig. 3, a passage CI is'provided in the body of the disk 44 for conducting fluid from the passage 58 to a lateral projecting fltting II which is provided with a threaded bleeder valve It at its outer end. The outer end an openin closed by means of a threaded plug I0, through which a suitable tool may be inserted to operate the bleeder valve. .The bleeder valve 09 provides a means for. releasing the pressure in the brakeapplying annulus in case the pressure is not properly exhausted through the inlet pipe SI- upon release of the brake-applying pedal.

-Adjacent to its outer periphery and outwardly of the channels 49, the disk 44 carries a series of regularly spaced transverse pins I I, which project from opposite sides of the disk and provide supports for conical shoes 12 which slide axially on the pins toward and away'from the conical portions of the wheel disks 2'! and 23. The shoes I2 are of identical construction and each is faced with a conical lining I3 engageable with the wear plate 40 on the adjacent wheel disk. Each shoe I2 has an inwardly projecting cylln drical web 14 which has a flange I at its inner end. The flanges 15 are provided with spaced pin-receiving recesses I6 (Fig. 10). .The engagement of the pins 'II in the recess I6 restrains turning movement of the shoes I2 on the disk 44 and the pins II serve to support the shoes for axial movement toward and away from the opposite faces of the disk.

It is desirable that there be a yielding shockabsorbing connection between the shoes I! and the disk 44 to cushion torsional impacts and such a connection is provided by U -shaped spring bearing members 11 mounted in each of the recesses It. As best shown in Fig. 10, each bearing member II has end flanges I8 which engage with the exterior surfaces of the flanges I5 at opposite sides of the recesses It and side flanges I9, which engage. with opposite side faces of the flanges IS. The end flanges I! hold the central portions of the bearing members spaced from the bottoms of the recesses I6 and theslde flanges I! hold the bearing members against transverse movement with respect to the flanges I5. The curvature of the U-shaped bearing members is such that the bearing members are normally out of con tact with the sides and bottom of the recesses. The pins ll seat in the U-shaped bearing members II which are adapted to yield slightly under applied torque to absorb some of the shock when the shoes are brought into clutching engagement with the friction members of the wheel which limits the outward movement of the rin with respect to the shoe. At

its outer end the annulus has a thickened portion 84 which a is adjacent the outer disk 23,

of the flange I! and of ring II has an inturned-flange It. The ring II may be of relatively thin cross section and a stiffening ring ll may be mounted interiorly of the cylindrical threaded portion, the flange is serving to position thestiflenlng ring 84. The inner end of the ring II lies within the. channel 40 of the adjacent torque disk and the inner faces thestiffeningring 84 are disposed in a plane parallel with the plane of the bottom of the channel. A heat insulating pad ll may be attached to the inner face of the ring ii to impede transfer of heat from the friction members to the inflatable annulus.

soft rubber annulus, an unattached sealing ring- 86 is provided which is formed of rubber preferably somewhat stifler than the rubber of" the inflatable annulus. Each sealing ring is of a radial width to slidably flt in its annular channel 49 and has inwardly projecting side flanges 81 which overlie opposite sides of the annulus 50. The sealing rings It fit snugly in the channel 49 in order to provide a fluid seal in the channel 40 outwardly of the annulus 50, so that rupture of an inflatable annulus will not prevent proper application of the brakes. The inflation of the annulus Iii exerts a lateral pressure on the flanges lI to maintain sealing engagement between the edges of the ring 88 and the walls of the channel 49. The rings 86 have flat outer faces which are engageable with the heat-insulating pads 85 carried on the adjusting rings. The rings 88 are free from attachment to the walls of the channel, to the adjusting rings and to the inflation annuii. Lubricant, such as glycerine, may be provided between the contacting faces of each annulus 50 and its sealing ring 86 so that creeping of the unattached sealing ring will not unduly distort the annulus.

The flanges 83 of the adjusting rings 8| are provided with gear teeth 88 which form internal gears with which pinions 88 mesh. As best shown in Fig. 4, the pinions 89 are fixed to opposite end portions of a shaft 90 journaled in the body of the disk 44 inwardly of the channels 49. The shaft 80 has a squared outer end 9| adapted to receive a suitable actuating crank which may be inserted through the opening in the outer disk 23 which is closed by the threaded plug It.

By reason of its large diameter, the threaded adjusting ring 8| provides a means for effecting very minute adjustments of the shoes It with respect to the wear plates 40. A large number of turns of the small pinions 89 is required to turn the ring 8| through a complete revolution and one turn of the shaft 90 will effect an adjustment of the shoes I2 which is but a small able the operator to readily determine the amount of adjustment imparted to the shoes I2, one of the pinions I! is provided with a recess which is engaged by a spring click 9:, which makes an audible sound at the end of each rotation of the shaft 9|. By counting the clicks, the exact amount of adjustment desired may be imand to maintain a heavy thrust against theseshoes during the braking operation. Upon release of the fluid pressure, the shoes I2 are returned to disengaging position by means of a series of coil springs 93 connecting the inner ends of the shoes I2.

The wheel and brake of the present invention being mounted upon the quill can .be readily applied to or removed from a landing gear axle. Due to the abuse to which landing wheels are subjected in service, repair and replacement of tires and brake elements are frequently necessary. It is therefore highly advantageous to have wheels containing the entire braking mechanism which may be quickly and easily removed and replaced with other wheels, so that repairs on tires and brakes will not delay the operation of the airplane. It will also be apparent that, by reason of a relatively large radius of the frictional braking surfaces and by reason of their low angle of taper, preferably less than 45, the brakes are capable of exerting a very great retarding force.

Both the brake and wheel structure are extremely rigid and the tire and brake actuating members are effectively protected against damage by heat conducted from the braking surfaces. Also, the expansion and contraction of the metal wheel body due to the heat generated by braking operations does not distort the quill because the connection between the wheel body and quill is such as to permit expansion and contraction of the wheel body without exerting excessive stresses on the quill.

In Figs. 11 to 14, inclusive, of the drawings, a modified form of torque disk is shown that is adapted to replace the disk shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

The disk shown in Figs. 11 to 14 is similar to the disk above shown and described except that it is-formed of two substantially identical sections 94 and 95 in the form of disks joined .together face to face. The separable sections 94 and 9-5 serve to clamp sealing rings 90 and 91, which provide the peripheral boundaries of internal fluid pressure chambers 99 and 99 formed by registering recesses on the inner faces. of the disks. The sections 94 and 95 are clamped together by suitable clamping bolts I00, by means of which suflicientpressure may be exerted upon the sealing rings 99 and 91 to provide an effective seal against leakage of fluid pressure from the chambers 98and 99.

The disk sections are provided with channels 49 to receive the inflatable annuli 50 and fluid under pressure is introduced into the inflatable annuli 50 through the chamber 98. Each annulus has a tubular stem IOI which has an inner threaded end which lies within the chamber 99, a nut I02 being provided to clamp the stem IN to the disk. As shown in Fig. 11, the stems of the two annuli are positioned side by side within the chamber 98. Fluid under pressure is supplied to the annuli 50 through a pressure pipe I03 which is attached to afltting I04 extending through the disk 44 and through the chamber 98 within the sealing ring 96, the fitting I04 being apertured to permit flow of fluid into the chamber 00. The chamber provides an outlet to a bleeder fitting similar to that previously described and the chamber 90 contains two stems III side by side which establish communication has twooutwardiy converging conical friction surfaces I09 and III. The shaft I01 has a splined end III upon which a torque disk H2 is fltted. The torque disk II 2 has spaced transverse pins Ill which are axially movable into and out of conical surfaces I09 and The shoes II 4 and the surfaces I09 and H0 are preferably disposed at angles of less than fortyflve degrees to the axis, so that tight wedging engagement is effected when lateral thrust is applied to the movable shoes II I. Adjacent their inner ends, the shoes III are provided with inwardly projecting flanges I I5, which are provided with spaced recesses H0 to receive the ins H3. The U-shaped spring bearing members III corresponding to the bearing members 11, previously described, are provided in the recess II6 to provide a yielding driving connection between the shoes Ill and the disk II 2. Adjacent the pins H9 and inwardly thereof, the disk is provided with regularly spaced apertures I I9 which receive coil springs II9, which are attached at their opposite ends to the shoes H4 and serve to normally hold the shoes out of engagement with the drum surfaces I 09 and H0 and to disengage the shoes upon release of pressure. the shoes I II has an inwardly offset inner portion I20 which extends into the channels I2I of the disk which correspond exactly to the channels 49 in the modification previously described. An inflatable annulus I22 is mounted in each channel I2I and a sealing ring I23 corresponding to the ring 86, previously described, is interposed between each annulus and each offset portion I 20 of the friction shoes.

The disk 2 has a hub portion I25 which is formed separately from the body of the disk and which has a cylindrical exterior face I26 and an outwardly projecting circumferential flange I21 at one end of the cylindrical face I26. The body portion of the disk II2 has a widened inner portion I29 which has a cylindrical surface I29 opposed to the cylindrical surface I26 of the hub and an inwardly extending peripheral flange at one end of the cylindrical surface I29. A series of flat annular rubber disks Iii are interposed between the hub I25 and the enlarged portion I29, with their inner and outer edges engaging the opposed cylindrical surfaces I26 and I29. Inner and outer spacing washers I32 and BM are interposed between the disks I 3| to hold the disks in slightly spaced relation. The washers I92 and I 92a are splined to the hub I25 and enlarged portion I29 and the interiors of the outer washers 2a are spaced from the peripheries of the washers It! in order to permitflexing of The disks It! are heldin and I; which extend through the flanges I21 and I", through the disks Iii through the clamping washers m and ifla and through clamping rings Ill and I, which are slidable on the huh I", and within the enlarged portion I, respectively. In order to make them more flexible, thedisks ill may be provided with spaced holes ill in the portions tween the inner andouter spacing washers m and lilo. The rubber disks Iii provide an elastic torque-absorbing connection betweenthe friction shoes ill and the shaft II", the elastic disks permitting a limited amount of turning movement of the shaft ilil within theshoes to absorb the impact shock when the friction shoes are suddenly applied to a rapidly revolving drum. Fluid under pressurefor inflating the rubber annuli I22 is introduced through a flexible pipe I38 which connects a passage I39 in the body of the disk H2 with an axial passage I in the shaft lll'l.

' It will be apparent that the torque disks, friction elements, shoe adjusting means and fluid pressure actuating devices herein disclosed are applicable to either brakes or clutches, that the various modifications of the above mentioned features are to be considered to be applicable to either clutches or brakes and that many variations of the specific structure herein shown and described are within the scope of the invention.

what I claim is: g

1. A wheel and brake for airplanes comprising a quill adapted to be detachably mounted upon an axle. a wheel body rotatably mounted upon said quill, said wheel body comprising a rim and a pair of rim supporting disks apertured to receive said quill and having converging conical outer portions joined to said rim centrally thereof, a torque member attached to said quill and disposed centrally between said wheel disks, an annular brake member on each side of said torque member, each brake member having a conical portion underlying the conical portion of the adjacentwheel disk, means disposed adjacent the larger diameter ends of the conical portions of the annular brake members and adjacent the center plane of the wheel for supporting said annular brake members on the torque member for axial movements toward or away from the torque member and for holding said annular brake members against turning movements with respect to the torque member, and'means for simultaneously moving said annular brake members into engagement with the wheel disks.

2. A wheel and brake for airplanes comprising a quill adapted to be detachably mounted upon an axle, a wheel body rotatably mounted upon said quill, said wheel body comprising a rim and a pair of rim supporting disks apertured to receive said quill and having converging conical outer portions joined to said rim centrally thereof, a torque disk attached to said quill and disposed centrally between said wheel disks, an annular brake mem-.

her on each side of said torque disk, each brake member having a conical portion underlying the conical portion of the adjacent wheel disk, supportingmeans for the annular brake members carried by the torque diskand disposed adjacent the center plane of the wheel and between the larger diameter ends of the conical portions of said brake members, an inflatable annulus interposed between each brake member and the torque thereof which he beplace by bolts I311 disk. and means for delivering fluid under pres-; sure to said annuli.

3. A wheel and'brake for airplanes comprising a quill'adapted'to be detachably mounted upon an axle. a wheel body rotatably mounted upon said quill, saidwheelbody comprisinga rim and. a pair of rim supporting disks apertured to receive said quill and having converging conical outer portions joined to said rim centrally thereof, said conical portions being-inclined at an angle of less than 45 to the wheelaxis, [a torque disk attached to said quill and -disposed centrally between said wheel disks, an annular brake member on each side of said torque disk, each annular brake member having a conical portion of substantially the same inclination as the conical portion of the adjacent wheel disk and underlying said conical portion of the wheel disk, interengaging members carried by the torque disk adjacent its eriphery and by the brake members between the larger diameter ends of their conical portions for slidably supporting said annular brake members tor axial movements toward and away from said torque disk and for holding said brake members against rotation with respect to said torque disk, and means for simultaneously moving said brake members axially to engage the conical portions thereof with the conical portions of the.

wheel 4. A wheel and brake for airplanes comprising a quill adapted to be detachably mounted upon an axle, a wheel body rotatably mounted upon said quill, said wheel body comprising a rim and a pair of rim supporting disks apertured to receive said quill and having converging conical outer portions joined to said rim centrally thereof, said conical portions being inclined at an angle of less than 45 to the wheel axis, a torque disk attached to said quill and disposed centrally between said wheel disks, annular brake members having conical portions of substantially the same inclination as the conical portions of the adjacent wheel disk and underlying said conical portions of the wheel disk, interengagins members carried by the torque disk adjacent its periphery and by the brake members between the larger diameter ends of their conical portions for slidably supporting said annular brake members for axial movements toward and away from said torque disk and for holding said brake members against rotation with respect to said torque disk, an inflatable annulus interposed between the torque disk and each of said annular brake members, and means for delivering fluid under pressure to said annuli.

5. A wheel and brake for airplanes comprising a quill adapted to be detachably mounted upon an axle, a wheel body rotatably mounted on said quill, said wheel body comprising a peripheral tire supporting rim and a pair of rim supporting disks having substantially parallel inner portions apertured to receive said quill and converging conical outer portions joined to said rim centrally thereof, a torque disk attached to said quill centrally thereof, an annular brake member on each side of said torque disk coaxial therewith and movable laterally with respect thereto, said disk and brake members having portions adjacent their outer peripheries that interengage to hold the brake members against rotation relative to the disk, means for yieldably pressing saidbrake members toward said torque disk, and means carried by the torque disk inwardly of said inter engagin portions for simultaneously moving said to engage the same with the conical P rtions of said wheel disks.

6. A wheel and brake for airplanes comprising apertures, bearings interposed between said disks and said quill, a torque disk attached to said quill centrally thereof, an annular brake member on each side of said torque disk coaxial therewith and movable laterally with respect thereto, said disk and brake members having portions adjacent their outer peripheries that interengage to hold the brake members against rotation relative to the disk, means for yieldably pressingsaid brake members toward said torque disk, and means carried by the torque disk inwardly oi said interengaging portions for simultaneously moving said brake members away from the central torque disk to engage the same with the conical portions of said wheel disk.

7. A wheel and brake for airplanes comprising an axle-receiving quill, a torque disk attached to said quill centrally thereof, circumferentially spaced axially extending pins attached to said disk adjacent its periphery, an annular brake member upon each side of said disk, each brake member having peripheral portions adjacent opposite faces of the disk and provided with slots opening to the outer periphery thereof to receive said pins, said brake members having conical shoes which converge outwardly with their larger diameter ends upon opposite sides of said slotted portions, means for moving said brake members toward and away from said disk, and a wheel body rotatably mounted on said quill, said wheel body comprising a tire supporting rim, and spaced disks having converging conical outer portions overlying said conical shoes and joined to said rim centrally thereof.

8. A wheel and brake for airplanes comprising an axle-receiving quill, a torque disk attached to said quill centrally thereof, an annular brake member mounted for axial movement on each side of said torque disk, means for holding said brake members against rotation with respect to said disk, each of said brake members having a conical shoe, an inflatable annulus interposed between said disk and each of said brake members, means for introducing fluid under pressure into said annuli to move said brake members outwardly, and a wheel body rotatably mounted upon said quill, said body comprising inner and outer sections joined in a median plane, each section comprising a disk portion and an integral rim flange at the periphery of the disk, said disks having parallel inner portions and converging conical outer portions which overlie said conical shoes, each of said wheel body sections having stiffening and heat dissipating webs extending across the space between the conical portion of the disk and the rim flange and integral with the disk and flange.

9. The combination with an axle and a wheel mounted on the axle and having a brake member thereon, of a torque disk carried by the axle and having a series of circumferentially spaced axially extending pins, an annular brake member slidable on said pins and engageable with the brake member of the wheel, said annular brake 75 a k the brake member, a resilient U-shaped pin seating member mounted in each of said slots, said 1 U-shaped members being supported in the slots with the bottoms thereof spaced from the' inner ends of said slots.

10. The combination with an axle and a wheel mounted on the axle and having a brake member thereon, of a torque disk carried by the axle and having a series of circumferentially spaced axially extending pins, an annular brake member slidable on said pins and engageable with the brake member of the wheel, said annular brake member having peripheral radially extending slots to receive said pins, the width of said slots being greater than the diameter of said pins, and a resilient U-shaped pin seating member of less depth than the slot mounted in each of said slots, each pin seating member having positioning flanges engaging the side faces of the brake member.

11. A wheel and brake for airplanes comprising an axle having a wheel supporting end portion, a flange fixed to said axle inwardly of said wheel supporting portion and provided with circumferentially spaced apertures, a quill'having seating portions at its inner and outer ends engaging said axle adjacent said flange and adjacent the end 01' the axle, said quill having a flange at its inner end provided with pins engageable in the apertures of said flange, means including a nut on the outer end of the axlefor clamping said quill against said flange, a wheel body rotatably mounted on said quill, said wheel body having a tire supporting rim and spaced disks provided with internal braking surfaces, roller bearings interposed between said disks and the inner and outer ends of said quill, a torque disk attached to said quill and disposed centrally between said wheel disks, axially movable brake members carried by said torque disk and engageable with the braking surfaces of the wheel disks, fluid pressure actuators for said axially movable brake members, and means including a conduit extending through the quill and beneath the inner wheel bearing for supplying fluid under pressure to said actuators.

.12. A wheel and brake for airplanes comprising a quill adapted to be detachablymounted upon an axle, a wheel body rotatably mounted upon said quill, said wheel body comprising a rim and' a pair of rim supporting disks apertured to receive said quill and having converging conical outer portions, brake shoes carried by the quill and engageable with the conical portions of the disks,

and means for clamping the wheel body against axial movement on the quill, including a spring interposed between the wheel body and the clamping means at one side thereof to permit expansion of the wheel body independently of said quill.

13. A wheel and brake for airplanes comprising a quill adapted to be detachably mounted upon an axle and having an outwardly projecting flange at its inner end, a wheel body comprising a rim and .a pair of rim supporting disks apertured to receive said quill and having converging conical outer portions, brake shoes carried by said quill and engageable with the conical portions of said disks, means for clamping said wheel body against the quill flange, and a spring interposed between the wheel body and flange to permit expansion of said wheel body independently of said quill.

14. A wheel and brake for airplanes comprising quill adapted to be detachably mounted upon X16. said quill, said wheel body comprising a rim and pporting disks-apertured to receive.

, its periphery and away from opposite a wheel body rotatably mounted upon apair of rim said quill and having converging conical outer portions, the conical ortions of said disks having circumferentially spaced apertures and the in- 'ternal surfaces thereof having grooves across the spaces between the apertures, secured to and covering the grooved conical surfriction wear plates faces, andbrake shoes carried by thequill .and

engageable with saidwear plates.

15. In a device of the character described, two coaxial relatively rotatable members, one of said members including a friction element having outwardly converging internal conical surfaces, a torque disk fixed to the other of said members and centrally disposed with respect to said conical surfaces, annular coaxial shoes slidably mounted on said disk and having external conical surfaces which conform to said internal conical surfaces, said disk and shoes having interengaging portions disposed adjacent their external peripheries for holding the same against relative rotation, and

means disposed radially inwardly of said interengaging portions for simultaneously moving said shoes into or out of engagement with said internal conical surfaces.

16. In a device of the character described, two coaxial relatively rotatable members, one of said members including afriction element having outwardly converging internal conical surfaces, a torque disk fixed to the other of said members and centrally disposed with respect to said conical surfaces, pins carried by said disk adjacent its periphery, annular coaxial shoes having external conical surfaces which conform to said internal conical surfaces and having portions extending inwardly from the larger diameter ends of said external conical surfaces and slidably mounted on said pins, springs-for normally holding said shoes against said disks, fluid pressure operated means interposed between each shoe and said disk inwardly of said pins, and means for conducting fluid under pressure to said fluid pressure operated means to press said shoes against the internal conical surfaces.

1'1. In a device of the character described, two coaxial relatively rotatable members, one of said members including a friction element having outvva-rdly converging internal conical surfaces, a torque and centrally disposed with respect to said condisk fixed to the other of said members ical surfaces, pins carried by said disk adjacent adjacent -the larger diameter ends of said conical surfaces, annular coaxial shoes slidably mounted on said pins and having external conical surfaces which conform to said internal conical surfaces, said conical surfaces having a taper of less than 45 with respect to their axis, and fluid pressure operated means disposed radially inwardly of said pins for pressing said shoes into engagement with said internal conical surfaces.

18. Ina device of the coaxial relatively rotatable members, one of said members including a friction element having outwardly converging internal conical surfaces, a torque disk flxed to the other of said members and centrally disposed withrespect to said conical surfaces, coaxial annular shoes on opposite sides of said torque disk, each having external surfaces conforming to said internal conical surfaces, means adjacent the larger diameter ends of said conical surfaces for slidably supportin: said shoes for axial movements toward or character described, two

spect-to said disk,

sides of said torque disk and for holding said shoes against rotation with resaid shoes in retracted positions, and fluid pressure means disposed radially inwardly. of said supporting means for pressing said shoes against said friction member.

19. In a device of the character described, two

- coaxial relatively rotatable members, one of said internal surfaces, a

. said conical internal surfaces, said shoes having torque disk having notches opening to the external periphery thereof to receive said pins, fluid pressure actuating means interposed between said shoes and said disk radially inwardly of said pins, and means including a fluid assage in said disk for supplying fluid under pressure to said actuating means.

20. In a device of the character described, a

a laterally facing channel having concentric cylindrical side walls, an inflatable annulus in the bottom of said channel, an axially movable ring in the outer portion of the channel and supported independently of the channel, a friction shoe attached to said ring, a sealing ring interposed between said shoe-attached ring and the inflatable annulus, and means forinflating said annulus.

21. In a device of the character described, a torque disk having a laterally facing channel having concentric cylindrical side walls, an inflatable rubber annulus in the bottom of said channel, an axially movable ring in the outer portion of the channel and supported independently of the channel, an unattached sealing ring of rubber fitting in'said channel and interposed between said independently supported ring and said inflatable annulus, and a friction shoe attached to said independently supported ring.

22. In a device of the character described, a torque disk having a laterally facing channel having concentric cylindrical side walls, an annular friction member mounted on the disk for axial sliding movement, said friction members being internally threaded, means for holding said friction member against turning movements with respect to said disk, an externally threaded ring screwed into said friction member and extending into said channel, an inflatable annulus in the bottom of said channel, an unattached sealing ring interposed between said inflatable annulus and said threaded ring, and means for turning said threaded ring to adjust said friction member axially. I a

23. In a device of the character described, a torque disk, circumferentially spaced axially extending pins attached to said disk, an annular friction member slidably mounted on said pins, said friction member being internally threaded,

a ring screwed into said friction member, and

" flatable annulus interposed between said ring springs for normally holding 25. In a device of the character described, a torque disk, circumferentially spaced axially extending pins attached to said disk, an annular friction member slidably mounted on said pins, said friction member being internally threaded, a ring screwed into said friction member, an inflatable annulus interposed between said ring and said disk, gearing for turning said ring, and a click associated with said gearing;

26. In a device of the character described, a torque disk, circumferentially spaced axially extending pins attached to said disk, an annular friction member slidably mounted on said pins, said friction member being internally threaded, a ring screwed into said friction'member, an internal gear on said ring and concentric therewith, a pinion meshing with said gear. and a yielding click engaging said pinion.

27. In a-device of the character described, a disk having a conical portion provided with circumferentially'spaced apertures and parallel circumferential grooves, and a layer of wear-resistant material secured to the grooved face of the disk. I

28. In a device of the character described, a torque disk having circumferentially spaced axially extending pins adjacent its periphery, an annular friction member having an annular rib provided with spaced slots opening to the external periphery thereof to receive said pins, and resilient U -shaped bearing members mounted in said slots in which said pins seat.

29. In a device of the character described, a torque disk having circumferentially spaced axially'extending pins adjacent its periphery, an annular friction member having an annular rib provided with spaced slot opening to the external periphery thereof to receive said pins,v and a I u-shaped resilient bearing member mounted in each of said slots and each engageable with one of said pins to normally hold the same spaced from the walls of the slot.

30. In combination a axial relatively rotatable members, an annular friction member fixed to one of said members, a torque disk fixed to the other of said members, a series of circumferentially spaced axially extendil'lg', pins carried by said torque disk, an annular friction member. slidable on said pins and engageable with the first mentioned friction member, said slidable friction member having radially disposed slots to receive said pins, opening to a periphery thereof, and a resilient U-shaped pin seating member mounted in each of said slots with its bottom spaced from the bottom and side of the slot.

31. In combination a pair of substantially co axial relatively rotatable memberaran annular friction member fixed to one of said members, a torque disk fixed to the other of said members, a series of circumferentially spaced axially extending pins carried by said torque disk, an annular friction member slidable on said pins and engageable with the first mentioned friction member, said slidable friction member having radially disposed slots to receive said pins. opening to 'a pair of substantially coseating member mounted in 7 9,388,477 and said disk, and gearing for turning said ring.

periphery thereof, and a resilient shaped pin each of said slots with the bottoms thereof spaced from the bottoms and sides of the slots, each pin seating member having positioning flanges engaging peripheral and side faces of the friction member.

32. In a device of the character described, a torque disk, a friction member having a conical engaging portion mountedcoaxially with said disk and movable axially with respect to said disk;an annular web on said friction member adjacent the larger diameter of its conical portion and projecting axially past the large end of said conical portion, and members carried by said disk and engaging said web for holding said friction member against rotation with respect to said disk.

33. In a device of the character described, a torque disk having a j laterally facing annular channel, the side walls of which are cylindrical and concentric, an inflatable annulus mounted in the bottom of said channel, a friction shoe coaxial with the disk and rotatable therewith, said shoe having a portion overlying the open side of said channel and a portion projecting axially into said channel, said shoe being' movable axially with respect to said disk, an axially movable sealing ring slidable in said channel and interposed between said inflatable annulus and the axially projecting portion of said shoe, and means for inflating said annulus.

34. In a device of the character described, a

torque disk having, a laterally facing annular channel, the side walls of which are cylindrical and concentric, an inflatable annulus mounted in the bottom of said channel, a friction shoe coaxial with the disk and rotatable therewith, saidshoe having a portion overlying the open side of said channel and a portion projecting axially into said channel, said shoe being movable axially with respect to said disk, an axially movable sealing ring slidable in said channel and interposed between said inflatable annulus and the axially projecting portion of said shoe, said sealing ring having rubber flanges slidably engaging the cylindrical walls of the channel and partially overlying the interior and exterior sides of the inflatable annulus, and means for inflating said annulus.

35. A wheel and brake assembly comprising a wheel body having a pair of disks with outer conical portions converging to a rim portion, a torque member between said disks, an annular brake member on each side of said torque member, each provided with a conical face underlying the conical portion of a disk, said brake members and said torque member having interengaging portions disposed adjacent their outer peripheries and between the larger diameter ends of said conical faces for supporting the brake members on the torque member and for holding them against turning movements with respect to the torque member, and fluid pressure operated means carried by the torque member inwardly of said interengaging portions for pressing said brake members against said disk.

HERMAN T. KRAFT. 

